Solidarity members at Sasol and PetroSA finally to join strike: The union trusts that the pressure will lead to a settlement sooner

Solidarity members in the petroleum sector will begin to strike at 06:00 tomorrow morning. It will mainly affect Sasol and PetroSA. It is expected that their plants will come to a standstill as almost all of the technical and strategic posts at these plants are filled by Solidarity members. Sasol's Secunda plant will be hardest hit.

This action follows after Solidarity last week postponed its industrial action following a request from the employers. At the same time, Solidarity appealed to the employers to commence marathon talks last Friday to defuse the strike. However, according to Solidarity, no new offer came forth from the employers.

"One of the reasons why the strike has become so drawn out is because Solidarity members are still keeping production going at plants. Paradoxically, the sooner Solidarity joins the strike, the sooner it will be over. We are joining the strike with one purpose only, and that is to defuse it. It would appear to us as if more pressure on the process is seemingly the only way of forcing employers into marathon talks. We want to achieve urgency in the negotiation process. Employers have indicated that they are prepared to negotiate, yet we do not see any urgency," Dirk Hermann, Solidarity's deputy general secretary said.

According to Hermann, a breach of confidence has developed between top management and ordinary employees. This breach of confidence is partly due to the exorbitant increases that have been awarded to top management. Sasol's executive directors' remuneration has increased by between 63% and 100,11%, the average being 81%. This is between 13 and 21 times the inflation rate. The chief executive officer now earns R55 000 per day, which is almost the same as what an entry level employee earns in a year. This breach in confidence makes negotiations very tough.

"Solidarity knows all too well that it holds a strategic card, for its members are in strategic positions. Because we know this, we are not reckless about strikes. We reiterate our call for all parties to start with negotiations and to continue until a settlement has been reached. The public and South Africa can no longer be held hostage in this wage dispute. We trust that Solidarity members' joining of the strike will result in a positive outcome in the negotiations, which are due to resume tomorrow," Hermann concluded.

Statement issued by Dirk Hermann, Deputy General Secretary: Solidarity, July 17 2011

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